A Method to Extend CCD Operations across Different Operating Systems in the RTS2

As an open-source framework for remote telescope control with a Linux operating system, the RTS2 has been widely used in automatic observation using astronomical telescopes.Among various instruments a CCD is an essential part of an astronomical telescope system.However, there is a lack of technical support for operating CCD devices of a number of types under practical Linux environments, causing such a CCD device not functioning in the RTS2 framework.Without a replacement CCD the entire telescope system will be useless.Based on the function of the DirectShow technology in supporting video equipments under a WINDOWS operating system, we propose a method to use a Socket to establish communications between a Linux environment and a WINDOWS environment, so as to extend operations of a CCD into the LINUX environment.We have found from our test that a CCD device working under the WINDOWS but with its operations extended using our method can be controlled in the RTS2 to obtain real-time images.Our research has certain achievements:1) A commonly applicable method using the DirectShow is realized to access and control any CCD supported by a WINDOWS Driver Model.2) The extension of CCD operations within the RTS2 framework through Socket communication provides rather valuable reference for incorporating equipments of other types in a system with heterogeneous operating systems.